Seize the Word

It’s so hard to figure out what is the right thing to do. But even more so, it is even harder to act upon what is right to do, since it will always feel like it is wrong. But no matter what, trust in God, and while people and yourself may stumble time and time again, and even when your “right” thing to do turns out to be wrong, God can use it to further glorify himself and his Kingdom.

At times, you will stand at the crossroads, and you will make to make a choice, most of the time not able to see further down on the road. But in life we must always continue to strive forward. Not to say to never reflect back on the past — but don’t dwell in it too long, or else life cannot be lived the way God meant it to be lived for us.

So I’ve been very busy this week, and it will continue to be that way next week. In addition to school work that is starting to piling up, I have to take care of several job interviews and grad school visits. As I get busier, I start to shift my attention to things that only benefit me. As a result, in term of outreach, I have done nothing this past week.

I often pray and ask God to give me opportunities to share the gospel, or at least share the Christian love, with other people. However, I often choose to turn away those opportunities of reaching out to others. In the past 2–3 weeks, I have been paying attention to my decision making process and here are the top 3 reasons why I sometimes choose to let go of the opportunities of sharing the gospel.

1. I am too busy/tired, I don’t/can’t spare 3 hours talking to this guy.
2. I am not good enough in knowledge/I don’t explain things well to share the gospel.
3. I don’t really care if that guy is saved or not.

I think I need to be reminded of God’s love for me. I sometimes find it hard to appreciate what Jesus has done for me because we live in different times. I know, however, that if I think rationally, I should be able to see God’s amazing love manifested in things around me. God created the Sun to provide energy for lives on the Earth; God created animals to feed our belly so that we don’t starve; God gave us families and friends to help us get through various difficulties in life… etc.

If I truly appreciate what Jesus has done for me, then I have no excuse not to reach out to others. God wants the best for all of us. Therefore, we need to share the gospel with passion, so that those who don’t know God can eventually experience His abundant love. This is what we are called to do.

A football analogy: God is like a quarterback, football is like an opportunity to outreach to others, and we are like receivers. We should try to seize every opportunity to share the gospel, just as receivers go all-out to seize the football. This is still a lesson that I need to learn.

Yes, this week I’m going to do the ABC later in light of something else. I’m going to share with all of you something that I came across today, as a change of pace. Don’t worry, I’ll put up this week’s ABC passage later.

Blurb below to pique your interest

Prompting of the Holy Spirit

This is always something I’ve wrestled with. How do I know if God wants me to do something? Is it just me? Some hidden ambition? Until recently I was pretty sure when Bible verse would pop into my head, or verses would “pop out” at me, that would be indication.

So anyway, my friend, Mike (“Durandal7777777”) presented another way of looking and more encompassing but specific criteria I find to be more helpful**

1. The pressing of the Holy Spirit is not impelling. This is contrasted with demonic possession, which can feel like you aren’t in control of your body.
2. The pressing of the Holy Spirit will call you only to do/think things that are Biblical.
   • We are called to “test the spirits”.
   • “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 Jn. 4:1)
3. The pressing of the Holy Spirit will call you only to do/say things that are edifying to others.
4. The pressing of the Holy Spirit imparts knowledge that cannot be known any other way (“divine knowledge”).
   • A common manifestation is that of statements that require knowledge of one’s feelings but spoken by one who should, by lack of interaction, have no knowledge of by earthly means.

Whew, that took a bit.

What Took Place

Keep Reading (nice place to make you click, huh)

New semester, new theme, new Bible study series, new ABCs (Adviser Bible Challenges).

We’ll be reading Philippians for Bible study (BBS). Let’s discuss what we read after official Bible study’s over, because God’s word should be soaking into our minds and souls with their meditations and thoughts and emotions.

Having God’s word in our hearts isn’t just having the Bible reading of the day on our minds. It’s having it continually in our minds as we think about it in the longer term.

As we gradually uncover the implications of Scripture for our lives, we can discuss it with our brothers and sisters to challenge our own paradigms and theirs, moving toward God’s view of things by the Holy Spirit working to change our hearts.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. (2 Tim. 3:16)

The ABCs for this semester will be announced on Friday. Ciao!

On Thursday after leaving class, I noticed that my cell phone was missing. I hurried back to the classroom but didn’t find it. I also scoured the lab where I had been previously, to no avail. All this time I was praying that God would help me find it so I could give more glory to Him. After searching these two places unsuccessfully, I gave up hope. The lost and found was closed, and I thought I would just have to inquire there the next day.Before I left Cory Hall, I decided to check my classroom one last time, and there it was, hidden behind a chair. It must have slipped out of my pocket while I dozed off in class! So, the moral of the story is, “Don’t sleep in class.” No, jk. It reminded me that God often answers our prayers when we are most desperate, when we have lost all hope. That way, we won’t be misguided and think that it was our own doing; rather, it must have been God’s blessing.